Protection of Liver function with Protease Inhibitor from Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy after Hepatic Inflow Occlusion / 中国普外基础与临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate whether protease inhibitor (ulinastatin, UTI) can protect liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing hepatectomy after hepatic inflow occlusion. Methods A prospective randomized control study was designed. Thirty-one HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy after hepatic inflow blood occlusion were randomly divided into the following two groups. UTI group (n=16), 1?105 units of ulinastatin was given intravenously in operation, then the dosage was continuously used twice a day up to 5 days postoperatively. Control group (n=15), the patients received other liver protective drugs. Liver function, plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and cortisol level were compared between these two groups. Results The postoperative liver function of the UTI group was significantly improved compared with the control group. For example, on the third postoperative day the aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and total bilirubin level in the UTI group were significantly lower than those in the control group, respectively (P